Fill funnel construction for plastic tubs

ABSTRACT

The fill opening extending through a sidewall of a plastic dishwasher tub is sealed with respect to an interconnecting fill funnel while splash-out and spray-out through the fill funnel are substantially eliminated. The fill funnel comprises a unipartite, plastic construction which is secured to the exterior surface of a plastic tub sidewall by fasteners extending through the funnel and into mounting bosses on the tub wall but terminating short of the inner tub surface to eliminate any fastener sealing requirement. The fill funnel includes a short, cylindrical conduit extending through the fill opening which includes an integral, diametral rib whose lower horizontal surface lies within the normal splash-out and spray-out paths intersecting the fill opening.

United States Patent [1 Schimke July 2, 1974 [54] FILL FUNNELCONSTRUCTION FOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS PLASTIC TUBS 84,67]10/1935 Sweden 134/182 [75] Inventor: Thomas O. Schimke, Fern Creek,

Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge [73] Assignee: General ElectricCompany, Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrancis H. Boos Louisville, Ky. [22Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT The fill opening extending through asidewall of a [2]] Appl' 319301 plastic dishwasher tub is sealed withrespect to an in- 1 terconnecting fill funnel while splash-out andspray- [52] US. Cl. 134/182, 134/186 out through the fill funnel aresubstantially eliminated. [51 Int. Cl B08b 3/02 The fill funnelcomprises a unipartite, plastic construc- [58] Field of Search 134/154,182, 183, 186, tion which is secured to the exterior surface of a plas-134/191 tic tub sidewall by fasteners extending through the funnel andinto mounting bosses on the tub wall but [56] References Citedterminating short of the inner tub surface to eliminate UNITED STATEPATENTS any fastener sealing requirement. The fill funnel in- 3 064 661ll/I962 Jacobs 134/183 x cludes a e" Cylindrical conduit .gmndingthrough 3 5 1/1964 the fill opening which Includes an Integral,diametral 37213366 [0/1965 rib whose lower horizontal surface lieswithin the nor- 3,292,645 l2/l966 mal splash-out and spray-out pathsintersecting the till 3,347,250 lO/l967 Martiniak l3 4/l82 opening.3,394,725 7/l968 Macoicz I l34/l86 X 3,439,688 4/1969 Sholtes 134/154 x5 Clams, 4 Drawmg Flgures FILL FUNNEL CONSTRUCTION FOR PLASTIC TUBSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to large capacityfront loading dishwashers of the type normally comprising a permanentinstallation and employing upper and lower dish supporting racks asopposed to the smaller, low caare primarily those associated withmaterial strength, the unusually high temperature environment to whichthe tub is subjected and considerations relating to plastic moldingprocedures.

The advantages of the fill funnel disclosed herein as regards theelimination of splash-out and spray-out during a wash cycle areapplicable to any dishwasher construction while the specific mounting ofthe same in such manner as to eliminate potential leakage pathsadpacity, portable and/or top loading dishwashers. The ID jacent thesecuring fasteners and take advantage of an reason for the distinctionis that the ultimate objective of the invention is the employment of aunipartite plastic tub in large capacity, front loading dishwashers andwhile some of the problems presented by a proposed use of such a tubwould be common to dishwashers of either type; the majority aredistinct. Typical distinctions relate to increasing wall flexibilitywith increasing area, the absence of encompassing metal housings,greater tub shape complexity and additional interior tub mountings suchas dual rack support structures. Accordingly, the ensuing backgrounddiscussion relates primarily to front loading dishwashers of the typenormally adapted for a permanent, under cabinet, installation.

The high temperature, corrosive environment to which automaticdishwasher chambers are subjected dictates that the surfaces of thoseinternal components in contact with such environment be either highlyresistant, or immune, to corrosion. Corrosion resistant metals such asstainless steel represent a substantial cost factor in this highlycompetitive appliance field and the long term industry trend has beentoward the use of inert materials to resist the corrosive effects of thechamber environment which are magnified adjacent the usual metal tubseam welds. Insofar as the tub itself, representing the far greaterinternal surface area exposure. is concerned; the general trend in theUnited States has been toward the application of an adherent plasticcoating to the tub interior while European manufacturers have gone moreto the use of plastic tub liners. In either event, the basic structuraland design parameters that have prevailed since the advent of the modernfront loading automatic dishwasher remained valid. This for the reasonthat overall dishwasher design parameters, both as regards utility andstructural integrity, are virtually unaffected by whether theconventional metal tub is coated, lined or exposed.

Conceptually, the use of a unipartite plastic dishwasher tub, one notrequiring a more rigid backing or outer support structure, represents asubstantial ad vance in the art. Exemplary are the greatly decreasedcost factors of a molded plastic tub vis-a-vis that of a metal tubrequiring a further coating or lining operation; reduction in finishinglabor requirements and particularly tub welding operations; longer tublife due to corrosion resistance which is independent of faulty coatingprocedures or chipping; decreased thermal and acoustical transmissionthus minimizing need for separate insulation; and a lesser inventoryrequirement for separable components susceptible of integral moldingwith the tub.

The reduction to practice of such a concept, as applied to front loadingdishwashers on an assembly line basis, however, present a myriad ofproblems which arise as a requirement for different approaches to thoseengineering considerations which had previously been predicted upon theuse of a metal tub. The distinctions integrally molded fasteningcomponent is a function of the combination of such fill funnel with aplastic tub.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Splash-out and spray-out, i.e., that movementof wash liquid from the wash chamber back into the fill funnel as afunction of wash liquid agitation and spray during a normal wash cycle,is virtually eliminated by the presence of a horizontal rib spanning thefill opening whose undersurface is positioned to intersect that path ofliquid splash and/or spray directed into the fill opening.

A plurality of outstanding bosses are molded integrally with an exteriorplastic tub sidewall and the fill funnel is provided with coactingmounting sockets receiving the mounting bosses. The use of separablefasteners which extend through the fill funnel and into the mountingbosses to terminate short of the interior tub wall not only retains theimperforate character of the tub wall surrounding the fill opening butalso eliminates the need for coacting fasteners and/or seals on theinterior tub wall surface to retain the fasteners.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a front perspective view of a frontloading dishwasher employing the fill funnel of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation depiction of the fill funnel as viewed from theleft side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is.a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 illustratingthe mounting of the fill funnel to the tub wall; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the fill funnel as viewed from the frontof the dishwasher of FIG. 1 with the tub sidewall being shown insection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 is illustrated afront loading dishwasher 10 having a plastic tub 12 whose sidewall 14includes a fill opening 16 (FIG. 3) located above the normal wash cyclewater level and spray bar- 18. As will be apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4;that portion of tub wall 14 surrounding fill opening 16 and comprisingthe fill funnel mounting area is imperforate thus eliminating the usualpotential leakage path associated with conventional fasteningstructures. Fill funnel 20, comprising a unipartite plastic molding, ismounted to tub wall 14 through the intermediary of plastic bosses 22molded integrally with tub wall 14, mounting sockets 24 on fill funnel20 and separable fasteners 26. The funnel mounting bosses are preferablypreformed with blind fastener receiving bores terminating short of theinner surface 28 of tub wall 14 which are threaded by introduction of ascrew fastener. Alternatively, the bosses could be solid preforms whichare tapped by the introduction of fasteners 26. The end walls 30 of thefill funnel mounting sockets are normally preformed with fastenerreceiving openings which aid in the alignment and guidance of fastenersduring a power driven operation to thread or tap the plastic bosseswhich operation obviates the necessity for additional separable sealingand retaining elements such as conventional seals, lockwashers and nuts.

The, fill funnel, itself, includes an integral, semicylindricalconnector 32 upstanding from and in open communication with the hollowinterior 34 of the funnel body which terminates in a perpendicularlyrelated cylindrical conduit portion 36 sized to extend through tubwallfill opening 16 with the truncated, open end 38 thereof lyingsubstantially in the plane of inner tub wall surface 28. An integral,horizontal diametral rib 40 spans the open end of conduit section 36 toblock or deflect at least a major fraction of that upward liquid flowpath indicated by solid arrows 42 in FIG. 3. The generally straight lineflow path illustrated in FIG. 3 is more accurately representative of theupward flow path emanating from the spray bar and commonly known asspray-out due to its tendency to exit from the open upper side 44 andend of the fill funnel which comprise the necessary vent or anti-siphonopening. The splash action occuring during a normal wash cycle may bethought of as having a mean free path in the vicinity of the fillopening which approximates the illustrated flow path 42. ln eitherevent, that portion of such flow path as would normally gain access tothe open end of conduit 36 and impinge upon the interior back wall ofthe funnel at an acute angle for upward defection is blocked by thelower surface of rib 40 indicated in FIG. 3.

Connector 32 is adapted for connection with a supply conduit 46 and itssemi-cylindrical shape is simply to facilitate one piece molding of thefill funnel.

Fill opening 16 is sealed by a seal 48 received within an annular recessdefined between conduit portion 36 and a surrounding, concentric rib 50.

phasized that many such machines are commercially produced and purchasedfor indefinite use as a freestanding model adaptable at a later time bythe owner to a built-in unit beneath a kitchen countertop to blend withthe matching cabinet structure of the kitchen. Generally, the differencebetween the unit designed as a convertible and the unit to beimmediately permanently installed is the inclusion of side, rear and topcabinet appearance panels to the basic unit structure as designed forpermanent installation. Therefore, it should be understood that thepresent invention is specifically directed to the front-loading type ofdishwasher structure whether of the generally lower-cost unit having noappearance cabinet enclosure or the more elaborate, temporarily portableunit designed for later modification for use in a fixed location.

I claim:

1. A dishwasher including a unipartite tub defining a wash chamber saidtub having a fill opening in a sidewall thereof and bosses integral withsaid tub and spaced from said fill opening; spray means contained withinsaid tub positioned below the level of said fill opening said spraymeans introducing an upwardly directed liquid spray path intersectingsaid fill opening at an acute angle relative to said sidewall; a dooradapted to close said tub, said door having a generally verticallyclosed position; a fill funnel mounted on an exterior surface of saidtub in flow communication with said fill opening to admit water to saidwash chamber, said fill funnel including mounting sockets receivable bysaid bosses of said tub and baffle means positioned within the confinesof said fill opening in intersection relation to said spray path.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein said fill funnel additionallyincludes a liquid flow conduit extending through said fill opening toterminate in a truncated open end lying substantially in the plane ofsaid sidewall inner surface; and said baffle means comprising ahorizontally disposed rib integral with said liquid flow conduit.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the lower surface of said rib lieswithin said spray path fordeflecting a major fraction of the upwardlydirected liquid spray entering the open end of said conduit.

4. The combination of claim 3 including seal means surrounding said fillopening and in sealing engagement with said exterior tub wall surfaceand the fill funnel.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said fill funnel is of unipartiteplastic construction.

1. A dishwasher including a unipartite tub defining a wash chamber saidtub having a fill opening in a sidewall thereof and bosses integral withsaid tub and spaced from said fill opening; spray means contained withinsaid tub positioned below the level of said fill opening said spraymeans introducing an upwardly directed liquid spray path intersectingsaid fill opening at an acute angle relative to said sidewall; a dooradapted to close said tub, said door having a generally verticallyclosed position; a fill funnel mounted on an exterior surface of saidtub in flow communication with said fill opening to admit water to Saidwash chamber, said fill funnel including mounting sockets receivable bysaid bosses of said tub and baffle means positioned within the confinesof said fill opening in intersection relation to said spray path.
 2. Thedishwasher of claim 1 wherein said fill funnel additionally includes aliquid flow conduit extending through said fill opening to terminate ina truncated open end lying substantially in the plane of said sidewallinner surface; and said baffle means comprising a horizontally disposedrib integral with said liquid flow conduit.
 3. The dishwasher of claim 2wherein the lower surface of said rib lies within said spray path fordeflecting a major fraction of the upwardly directed liquid sprayentering the open end of said conduit.
 4. The combination of claim 3including seal means surrounding said fill opening and in sealingengagement with said exterior tub wall surface and the fill funnel. 5.The combination of claim 4 wherein said fill funnel is of unipartiteplastic construction.